2019 Albuquerque High Schools Football Yearbook 09
“Dorian is one of the most genuine guys I have ever
been around. He is well liked by his teammates
because they know he truly cares about them and
their success,” says Coach Ridenour. “Caring about
his teammates like he does combined with his
ability to change games on the field he is without a
doubt our leader. We go as he goes.”
And last year Cleveland went 12-1 and reached a
state final so you’d have to say that is working out
just fine. Make no doubt about it, Lewis is a big-time
talent who makes time for all of his teammates,
and they for him as their leader.
“This is a real close-knit team that loves each
other so much. We have been through so much
together, between injuries and the (state finals)
loss. Our brotherhood is our team’s foundation,”
adds Dorian.
When it comes to on-the-field action Cleveland
has again assumed the role of powerhouse football
team in 2019. It’s not just having a healthy Dorian
Lewis back in the lineup because he’s got plenty of
help and they know they can count on one another.
“Our team’s strength this year is each other,” says
Coach Ridenour. “We have some special players
but what makes our team special is our ability to
rely on one another and do our individual jobs. We
constantly talk about doing ‘your 1/11th.’ Be a hard
spot in your position. Do your job to the best of your
ability and we will be just fine.”
“Wins and losses take care of themselves when
you focus on the little things. Our teams ability to
narrow their focus on right now and not look ahead
is what makes us so special.”
Not looking ahead is a good thing in the game-togame
of a season but for Lewis looking ahead to
full recovery is what pulled him up from the despair
that followed his horrible knee injury.
“After I was injured I was really down. I wondered,
would I be able to come back?” says Lewis. He had
just begun his rehabilitation efforts when he got
a call that gave him a real shot in the arm. It was
Coach Ridenour on the line and he had some news
- Dorian had been named New Mexico’s Gatorade
Player of the Year. The news couldn’t have come at
a better time.
“I was in a real low spot with all kinds of emotions
all balled up inside me,” says Dorian. “When I got
that news I was overwhelmed with joy. It was really
inspiring to be thought of like that as a football
player.”
Great news, true, but not the end of the story. The
rest of the story was the months of grueling rehab
Lewis endured. Tough as it was, both physically
and mentally, there was a certain silver lining for
all his effort.
“What changed my life wasn’t the injury it was all
the rehab I had to do afterwards. I put in the time
and could see the progress and it drove me to get
back as soon as possible. I wanted to be back for
the start of the (2019) season and I did it. I did it for
me and for my team.”
And during the course of his career - with a big
senior season yet to unfold - Dorian Lewis has
done plenty for his school’s football program, a lot
of it when he’s not even on the field.
“I would say that our program is better for having
Dorian been a part of it, and I am a better coach
and person for having had the opportunity to coach
Dorian,” says Coach Ridenour. “He is a special
talent and a genuine person. For those that know
him, his laugh can immediately change the mood
in a room. He makes football fun in ways that I
cannot explain.”